News & Events

New Graduate Apprenticeships to grow data science skills

Two of Scotland's leading universities
are the latest to back Graduate Apprenticeships.

The University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews
will work with global accounting and business services firm PwC to
offer a BSc in Data Science - the first course of its kind in
Scotland.

The universities and the employer have worked with Skills
Development Scotland (SDS) and Scottish Government to develop the
Graduate Apprenticeship, with an initial 20 places and plans to
expand to 80 places over four years.

Graduate Apprenticeships offer the opportunity to blend academic
learning with practical experience, leading to excellent career
prospects and a salary from day one.

Fourth industrial revolution

SDS Chief Executive Damien Yeates, said: "The unprecedented
change driven by advances in technology and demographic shifts, or
the fourth industrial revolution, has the potential to reshape
every aspect of society - particularly, the economy, work and
skills.

"This ground breaking Graduate Apprenticeship shows that
Scotland is at the vanguard of creating and delivering the
educational experiences to seize the opportunities created by these
changes.

"I am delighted that PwC and Edinburgh and St Andrews are
joining 12 other Scottish universities in expanding the reach of
the Graduate Apprenticeships."

"This ground breaking Graduate Apprenticeship shows
that Scotland is at the vanguard of creating and delivering the
educational experiences to seize the opportunities created by these
changes."

Damien Yeates

David Brown, PwC's Government leader in Scotland and co-chair of
the National Centre for Universities and Business, said:
"Technology is changing the world. Over two thirds of UK CEOs say
they're having difficulty recruiting people with digital skills, a
quarter of UK manufacturing businesses see skills shortages as
inhibiting output, while a third of financial services undertakings
are constrained by a lack of professional staff.

"The data science Graduate Apprenticeship is an example of how
new approaches to education can help address this demand by
combining world-class teaching and facilities at St Andrews and
Edinburgh Universities with work-based learning at PwC."

Work-based learning

This year 12 different types of Graduate Apprenticeship will be
offered by 14 universities and colleges across Scotland. More
employers, universities and colleges are expected to get involved
across all Graduate Apprenticeship frameworks as part of an
expanded programme for 2019.

"We are committed to developing a diverse array of educational
pathways so that everyone can fulfil their potential.

"Work-based learning, through the ever-growing range of
apprenticeships available in Scotland, has a core role to play in
delivering that ambition.

"The data science Graduate Apprenticeship is a direct response
to industry need, bringing the skills system, leading universities
and employers closer together, helping create the skills and
capabilities required to power the Scottish labour market of the
future."